Carbondale-Inspired Pecan Pie Bars with Bourbon Maple Glaze

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-08 · Updated 2026-08-08

Sweet and nutty pecan pie bars with a buttery crust, finished with a rich bourbon and maple syrup glaze, inspired by Southern Illinois flavors. This American-inspired recipe, ready in about 75 minutes, layers all-purpose flour, unsalted butter, cold and cubed, granulated sugar into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 12, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
• 2 tbsp bourbon
• 3 tbsp pure maple syrup

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. In a food processor, pulse 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 3/4 cup cold cubed unsalted butter, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, and 1/4 tsp salt until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press evenly into a greased 9x13-inch baking pan. Bake crust for 15 minutes until lightly golden.
2. Step 2: While crust bakes, whisk together 3 large eggs, 1 cup light corn syrup, 1 cup packed light brown sugar, and 1 tsp vanilla extract in a large bowl until smooth. Stir in 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans.
3. Step 3: Pour pecan filling evenly over the hot crust and bake for 35-40 minutes until filling is set but still slightly jiggly in the center.
4. Step 4: Combine 2 tbsp bourbon and 3 tbsp pure maple syrup in a small saucepan over low heat. Warm gently, stirring for 2 minutes until blended.
5. Step 5: Once bars have cooled to room temperature, drizzle the bourbon maple glaze evenly over the top. Chill bars for at least 1 hour before cutting into squares to serve.